Pair says they smuggled heroin capsules to give away, not sell

Dubai: Two Afghans have admitted smuggling and possessing 178 capsules of heroin weighing 1.5 kilograms, but denied possessing them for trading purposes when they appeared in court yesterday.

Prosecutors accused the Afghans, a 26-year-old worker, A.K., and a 25-year-old carpenter, I.K., with smuggling and possessing heroin to be used for trading purposes.

"I did possess 926g [112 capsules] of drugs, but I intended to deliver it to someone and not for selling," argued A.K. when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

I.K. contended before Presiding Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout: "I possessed 75 capsules [weighing 601g] but not for trafficking purposes, but I brought them for someone."

An Emirati policeman testified that the anti-narcotics police arrested A.K. following a tip.

"We arrested him in a sting operation after the informant posed as a buyer who agreed to purchase the heroin for Dh60,000."

The case was adjourned to June 1.